Trailer awning



l G. RAUGLAS 2,573,060

TRAILER AWNING Oct. 30, 1951 Filed June 19, 1948 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

G. RAUGLASv oct. 3o, 1951 TRAILER AWNING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19. 1948 IN V EN TOR. auf fafa] Wm, @Ma

G. RAUGLAS Oct. 30, 1951 TRAILER AWNING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 19, 1948 .IN VEN TOR. gz/zama Patented Oct. 30, 1951 TRAILER, AWNING Gerard Rauglas, Kankakee, Ill.

Application June 19, 1948, Serial No. 34,063

13 Claims.

This invention relates to awnings and more particularly to an awning for a house trailer and the like.

Various types of awnings have heretofore been proposed which are so weighty and bulky in design or so costly to produce as to make such a structure unattractive for such a purpose. The mobility and compactness of house trailers place certain requisites on the type of awnings to be used therewith. These requisites are as follows: (a) that the awning be of such design that it may be readily collapsed or extended when desired, by one or more persons, (b) that it be of simple lightweight construction, and (c) that it be collapsible into a small compact unit.

Thus it is one of the objects of the invention to provide an awning for house trailers and the like which possesses the requisites mentioned above.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an awning for house trailers and the like which will withstand repeated collapsing and extending without impairing the wearing qualities thereof.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an awning for house trailers and the like which will withstand high winds or rain without collapsing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an awning in which the drainage of rain water therefrom may be controlled and thereby the formation of rain pockets prevented.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an awning for house trailers and the like which is simple, yet sturdy in construction, effective in operation, and inexpensive to produce.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention an awning is provided comprising a fabric roof member having a hem-like pocket in the outer edge thereof and provided with a pluy rality of longitudinally spaced openings, a flexible stiffening rod extending through said pocket and having a plurality of loop-shaped elements projecting therefrom and cooperating with said openings, extensible supporting poles engaging said loop elements, and bracing means for said poles. The extensible supporting poles may be locked in an extended position upon relative twisting movement of the telescoping sections.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should be had to the drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of house trailer with the awning attached thereto and in its extended or operative position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the house trailer and awning shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hem-like pocket formed at the outer edge of the awning;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the house trailer and awning attached thereto with the outer edge of the roof member distorted so as to eliminate the formation of rain pockets and control the drainage of rain water therefrom;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the hem-like pocket in its extended position and with a portion of the pocket cut away to show the construction of the stiffening rod;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the hem-like pocket in its operative position taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stiifening rod;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a supporting pole with the outer telescoping section cut awai7 to expose the locking means for said extensible pole;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the ferrule member of the locking means shown in Fig. 8 with the metallic balls held by said ferrule, shown in dotted lines; and

Fig. 10 is a top plan view ofthe ferrule shown in Fig. 9.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, a house trailer 20 is shown in a temporarily fixed position and having an awning 22 attached thereto,` and extending substantially the length of one side of said trailer. The awning 22 in this instance comprises a sloping roof member 24, preferably of a fabric material, having its outer edge 25 formed into a hem-like pocket 26, which is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 28; a flexible stiffening rod 3B which extends through said pocket and has a plurality of loop-shaped elements 32 and 33 projecting therefrom and cooperating with said openings 28; extensible supporting poles 34 which engage said loop elements; and bracing means 36 which cooperate with said supporting poles.

The construction of the hem-like pocket 26 is shown in Figsf and 6 wherein the outer end portion 25 of the roof member 24 is folded back under said roof member and stitched thereto at 38, the remnant of said outer edge portion 25 freely extending downwardly to form a valance 4U. The construction of the side edges 4! of the roof member are similar to that for the outer edge 25, above described, in that the edge portion is turned back and fastened to the under side t2 of said member 2Q and the remnant thereof extending downwardly to form a valance 63. The adjacent edges of Valances di) and 133 are sewn together to form one continuous boxlke valance Thel valance ill is spaced rearwardly from the supporting poles 34 so that it will not be blown against said poles when there is a high wind and thus cause the poles to be urged rearwardly toward the trailer, causing the roof member 24 to slacken and enable the wind to get a better hold thereof. I-nfsuch a situation the-'awning is frequentlyblown-over the top of the trailer, resulting in damage to the awning and trailer. The construction of the hein-like pocket 26 and valance 48 shown in Fig. 6 eliminates this-.danger, because the pocket cuts the wind and the valance will be forcedL to lie flush again-st the under side 42 oi the roof member. Thepocliet 26 is of sunicient size to enable the stiiening rod '38 t lie loosely therein, and has a pluralityeonfdongitudinallv spaced, elongated openings 28 formed therein which are provided \vitn-grommets415 to `fir-eventtearing;or excessivewear of the fabric-at said openings.

`The stifening rod 30 is 'flexible fand :comprises :a plurality of vpipe-like spacer sections f46,which `are substantially thesa-me lengthasrthedistance between the openings 28, a :pair of pipe-'like end sections 48 (only one shown in Fig. `7) having .a loop-shaped .element 132 -rigidly :fixed thereto -and transversely projecting lfrom "the outer end` portion V49 of said section 48, and arplurality of loose tting connector sections 58 having `loop elements 33 `transversely projecting therefrom and yswvellymounted within the open end 52 of the adjacent spacer members and the open inner Aend v53 of the end section 48, as -seen in Fig. 7,

tive position. When the rod isplaced within the pocket 26, the loop elements32 and 3I$cooperate withthe corresponding openings 28 ofthe pocket. The flexibility of the stiffening rod 36 is determined by the amount which the connector sections '56 extend Within the `open ends V52 and l53 of ythe spacer and end sections 46 and 5l] respectively, and the diameter of said connectors relative to `the-insidediameter-of said spacer or end sections. The advantages of ,a eXible stiffening rod l3!) are twofold: rst, it allows the roof member 24 to be distorted to any one of a .number of positions (only one being shown in Fig. 4) thus eliminating the vformation of rain pockets and also controlling the drainage of the rain water therefrom; and, secondly, it enables the rod to be disassembled, when desired, into a small compact unit for storage. As shown ,in Fig. 4, -the rain water would .drain oi the roof member V24 at Vthe sides 54 and 56 and thei is engaged by the loop elements 32 and 33. The

loop elements are held against the end 69 of the section Y62 when in their operative position by vthe coil ,bracing spring 1|, to be discussed .more fully later. The inner end 12 of the smaller telescoping section 62 extends within section 64 and is provided with a locking mechanism 13 for holding the telescoping sections 62 and 64 in an extended position. The mechanism 13 aci--- tuated upon relative twisting movement of the section.

The locking mechanism 13 comprises a tapered guide member 14 rigidly iixed to the end 12 of thesection 62 and longitudinallyiextending therefrom and having an annular shoulder 16 at the bottom of the taper and a threaded stud 18 longitudinally extending from said shoulder, a fer- Yr.ule.8ll threaded on said stud 18 and frictionally engaging the inside periphery 82 of the outer section `164, the sides 84 of said ferrule being provided .witha plurality of spaced openings 86, and a plurality of metallic balls 88 seated in said-openings. As seen in Fig. 8, the balls 88 contact the tapered sides 90 of the guide mem- ;ber V1,4 :and upon acounterclockwise movement *A vof section y64 and aclockwise movement B of section 62 the ferrule member -86 is nthreadedonto stud 18 because of the slight fricltionalfengagement of the ferrule with the inside periphery 82 of the section 64. vUpon vtliethread- .fing of the ferrule on stud 18, the balls l88 are 4forced outwardly due to the tapered sides 96 of :the guide member 14 and engage the inside periphery 82 yof section 64, .thus .locking the teler'scoping'sectionin any .desired extended position. To unlock'the sections they are twisted `in the opposite directionfrom that shown, thus Vcausing the ferrule to unthread and the balls 4to release their grip. The annular shoulder 16, yaforementioned at rthe bottom of the taper, prevents the ,'balls ,from droppingloutof the `openings 86 'inthe Asides 84 ofthe ferrule. Stops 92 and '93 limit the amount of telescoping of the sections.

:The bracing means 36 vfor the supporting ples comprise a coil rspring :1l which engages the stud l10 of l:telescoping section ,-62, :as seen in Fig. 6, :an .adjustable :guide --rope 8,4 :attached to 4said coil, and a stake 96 for anchoring said reperto the ground. The-coil 1l seats the-loop elements Ai12 I'and-5.133 about-stud 10 and exerts a positive pull- -ingiforce Yon -the roof member .Z4-'at all-times.

Thus it will be seen that an awning has 4been provided :for house trailers land the ,like which .will readily 'withstand repeated collapsing .and extending yand high y'winds -as well, without impairing the wearing qualities thereof. Further- "morey-itissi-mple, -yet sturdy 'and lightweight in fconstruction, effective in operation, inexpensive `to produce, and adapted `to lbe collapsed into a small compact unit.

IWhile aparticular embodiment of this .inven- Ation is shown, it rwill be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto,

t since .many modications -may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as .fall .within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I-claim:

1. An awning comprising a sloping,.pliable, roof member having ahem-likepocket provided with v.a ,plurality ,of vopenings therein, a stifening rod vextending through said pocket and having a pluralityof vloop-shaped elements projecting therefrom .and-cooperating with said openings, a plu.- vrality of supporting poles Aen-gageable with .said loop-.shaped elements, and bracing meansfor said poles.

2. An awning comprising a-slopingpliable, roof member having a hem-like pocket provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therein, astiiening rod extending throughsaid pocket and having a plurality of loop-shapedelements projecting therefromand cooperating with t said openings, .a yplurality of supporting poles engageable with said loop-shaped elements, and bracing means for said poles.

3. An awning comprising a sloping, pliable, roof member having the outer edge portion thereof turned back and secured to the under side oi said roof member to form a hem-like pocket provided with a plurality of openings formed therein and the remnant of said edge portion extending downwardly from said roof member and disposed rearwardly of said pocket to form a valance, a

stiiening rod extending through said pocket and being substantially the length thereof, said rod having a plurality of elements projecting therefrom and cooperating with said openings, supporting poles engageable with said elements,v and bracing means for said poles.

4. An awning comprising a sloping, pliable, roof member having the side edges thereof turned back and secured to the underside of said roof member and the remnant of said side edges extending downwardly from said roof member and spaced inwardly from the sides to form a valance, and the outer edge of said roof member turned back and secured to the underside thereof to form a hem-like pocket provided With a plurality of openings formed therein and the remnant of said outer edge portion extending downwardly from said roof member and spaced rearwardly from said pocket to form a valance, the adjacent edges of said Valances being joined together, a stiffening rod extending through said pocket and having a plurality of elements extending transversely therefrom and cooperating with said openings, supporting poles engageable with said elements, and bracing means for said poles.

5. An awning comprising a sloping fabric roof member having a hem-like pocket provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings, a stiiening rod extending through said pocket and having a plurality of U-shaped elements projecting therefrom and cooperating with said openings, a plurality of extensible supporting poles engageable with said U-shaped elements and bracing means for said poles.

6. The awning claimed in claim 2 in which the stiffening rod is iiexible and comprises a plurality of spacer sections having open ends and a plurality of loose tting connector sections swivelly mounted within the open ends of said adjacent spacer sections, said connector sections having a loop-shaped element projecting therefrom and extending through the adjacent pocket openings.

7. The awning claimed in claim 2 in which the stiffening rod is flexible and comprises a plurality of spacer sections having open ends, a pair of end sections having open ends and a loop element projecting therefrom at one end, and a plurality of loose tting connector sections having loop-shaped elements projecting therefrom, said connector sections swivelly mounted within the open ends of said adjacent spacer sections and adjacent end and spacer sections, said loop elements extending through the adjacent pocket openings.

8. The awning claimed in claim 2 in which the stiiening rod is flexible and comprises a plurality of spacer sections having open ends and a plurality of loose fitting connector sections rotatably mounted within said open ends of said adjacent spacer sections, said spacer sections being substantially the same length as the spacing of said pocket openings.

9. An awning comprising a sloping, pliable, roof member having a hem-like pocket provided with a plurality of openings formed therein, a stiffening rod extending through said pocket and having a plurality of elements projecting transversely therefrom and cooperating with said openings, and a plurality of supporting poles engageable with said elements.

10. An awning comprising a sloping, pliable, roof member having a hem-like pocket formed in the outer edge thereof and provided with a plurality of spaced openings, a flexible stiifening rod extending through said pocket and having a plurality of elements projecting transversely therefrom and insertable through said openings, and a plurality of supporting poles engageable with said projecting elements.

l1. An yawning comprising a sloping, pliable, roof member having the outer edge thereof turned back and secured to the underside of said roof member to form a hem-like pocket having a plurality of openings provided therein and the remnant of said edge portion extending downwardly from said roof member to form a valance, a stifening rod extending through said pocket and having a plurality of loop-shaped elements projecting therefrom and cooperating with said openings, and a plurality of supporting poles engageable with said loop-shaped elements.

12. An awning comprising a sloping, pliable, roof member having the outer edge thereof turned back and secured to the underside of said roof member to form a hem-like pocket having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings provided therein and the remnant of said edge portion extending downwardly from said roof member and spaced rearwardly from said pocket to form a valance, a stiifening rod extending through said pocket and having a plurality of loop-shaped elements projecting therefrom and cooperating with said openings, and a plurality of supporting poles engageable with said loopshaped elements.

13. An awning comprising a sloping, pliable, roof member having the outer edge portion thereof turned back and secured to the underside of said roof member to form hem-like pocket having a plurality of openings formed therein, the remanant of said edge portion extending downwardly from said roof member to form a valance, a stiflening rod extending through said pocket and having a plurality of elements projecting transversely therefrom and cooperating with said openings, and a plurality of supporting poles engageable with said elements.

GERARD RAUGLAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

